Fruit-drier



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

B. L. RYDER.

FRUIT DRIER.

No. 320,399. Patented Ju ne 16. 1885.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B.L.IRYDER.

FRUIT DRIER.

No. 320,399. PatentedJune 16, 1885 N. Pzfsns, Phoko-Lilhugmphcr. Wnhlngmn, u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN L. RYDER, OF OIIAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 320,399, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed April 2, 1883. Renewed April 9, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN L. RYDER, of Ghambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference more particularl y to that class of driers in which the fruit or other material to be treated is placed in shallow trays, which are moved lengthwise in a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction through flues or chambers supplied with heated air from a stove or other heating apparatus located thereunder at one end, as represented in the several Letters Patent of the United States hitherto granted to me.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

' Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through my improved drier on the line 3 y, Fig. 2. Fig.2 represents a transverse vertical section of the same on the line at .r, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the sectional character of the body, several of the parts or sections being separated from each other. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the trays. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the construction of the adjustable or extensible supports by means of which the inclination of the body may be varied.

A represents the body of the apparatus, made of oblong and substantially rectangular form with one endlocated directly over a heating chamber or furnace, B. The furnace,

which is designed to remain permanently in position may be of any suitable form or construction adapted to receive a steam-boiler, steamradiator, stove, or other suitable appliance for heating the air, which passes there from into the body above. lt is preferred to hinge the body to the forward edge of the furnace, as represented at a, in order to permit the body to be adjusted in a horizontal position, or at any required inclination; but the hinge may be omitted and the body jointed to or seated upon the furnace in an y suitable man ner which will admit of its being adjusted in respect thereto, as stated. The jointed or loose connection between the furnace and the body or flue is advantageous in that it permits the position or inclination of the body to be changed while the furnace remains firmly in place 1nstead of being tilted sidewise, as would otherwise be thecase. In this regard the present construction is a great improvement upon that shown in my original patent, No. 133,060; Reissue No. 7 ,654. At its rear end the body is sustained by means of adjustable legs or supports 0, hinged at their upper ends thereto in such manner that they may be folded compactly against the body for transportation. These adj ustablc supports may be of any suitable construction; but it is preferred, as represented in the drawings, to construct them of upper sections, 1), jointed to the body, and lower sections, 0, connected to the upper by means of encircling bands or clasps d and spring'catehes c. The catches will be attached to one of the sections and arranged to engage in notches in the other, as plainly represented in the drawings, and will be provided with knobs or thumbpieces, by means of which they may be readily disengaged. The joint-ed connection between the body and the furnace avoids the danger which would otherwise exist of the body slipping or being forced out of its proper position.

For the purpose of maintaining the close connection between the top of the furnace and the inside of the body, notwithstanding the adjustment of the latter, I provide the body with stationary side plates, f, which extend downward past the top of the furnace, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andalso hinge to the body a depending board or flap, g, the lower edge of which shall rest against the rear side of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 1. This hinged board will adapt itself to the varying position of the body, maintaining at all times a close joint between the top of the furnace and the inside of the body.

As plainly represented in the several figures, the body is divided by horizontal partitions h and i into three longitudinal flues, D E F, lying one above another. Longitudinal rails or shoulders s, extending along the lower corners of the fines, serve as supports for the trays, which will be hereinafter described, permitting the trays to be moved through the flue-s out of contact with the bottom, in order that the heated air may circulate not only above but also beneath the trays. The body is provided at its two ends with hinged doors, by

means of which access maybe had to the respective fines independently. The lower flue,

D, has its forward end in constant communication with the top of the furnace or heatingchamber B, as represented. At its rear end the flue D is in constant communication with the flue E by means of an intermediate passage or ope'ning,-j, and the rear end of the flue E is in turn in constant communication with the rear end of flue F by means of an opening, k, above which there is a chimney or outlet, l, opening from the top of the flue F. The upper line, F,is provided, adj acent'to the chimney or outlet l, with a vertically-sliding gate, m, by which the end of said flue may be closed, so as to shut off communication between said flue and the chimney, as well as with the flue thereunder.

At the forward end of the apparatus an opening is made from the flue D into the flue E, and a horizontal sliding gate, Gr, is provided for the purpose of closing said opening. It will be observed that by moving this gate forward and backward the air and heated products may be permitted to ascend from the furnace directly through the lower flue, 1), into the forward end of the flue E, or confined within the flue D, and compelled to pass backward to its rear end before ascending. A second sliding gate, H, located at the forward end of the apparatus between the middle flue, E, and top flue, F, serves to open and close an opening between said flues. It is to be noted that by closing the gates 11 and m the upper flue will be entirely closed or isolated from the remainder of the apparatus, in order that it may be used for the purpose of subjecting the fruit therein to the fumes of the bleaching material, as hereinafter described. A pipe, I, opening at one end into one side of the upper flue, F, near the front, is extended thence downward on the outside of the apparatus and expanded or enlarged at its lower 1 T end into a hood or funnel, J. Immediately below this funnel there is located a receptacle,

K, intended to receive sulphur. This receptacle is formed in one end of a body or plate, which is extended inward through the side of the furnace or heater in the manner represented in Fig. 2, so that the heat developed in the furnace will be transmitted through the body of metal to the sulphur located on the outside, the fumes of the sulphur ascending through the pipe I into .the upper flue or forward portion of its top is hinged at p, in

chamber, F.

For the purpose of affording convenient ac cess to the forward end of the upper flue, the

order that it may be turned upward, together with the door or end portion hinged, thereto, the upward movement of the parts being plainly represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the practical use of theapparatus it is sometimes desirable to have the heated air ascend from the furnace directly into the flue E without passing lengthwise through the flue D. To secure this result the gate or slide G is divided transversely into two or more resented in Fig. 4.

sections, which are hinged together, as represented at r, Fig. 1. This construction permits the hinged portions, after being first-drawn forward, to swing downward across the end of the flue D, in order to close the communication between said flue and the furnace, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of moving the loaded trays upward through the flue E, I employ a sliding rack-bar, N, mounted in suitable guides in the base of the flue E, and combined with an operating-pinion, J, the shaft of which is extended to the outside of the apparatus, and provided with a hand-crank, P, by means of which the bar may be moved to and fro. At its lower end the bar is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with an upwardly-extending lip or shoulder to engage behind the trays, which are inserted in the flue above the bar.

For the purpose of checking the movement of the trays in a forward direction through the flue D, I employ at the forward end of said flue, directly above the furnace, a lockin frame, q, pivoted at u. The forward end of this frame preponderates in weight, causing its rear end to stand normally above the guides or rolls on which the trays slide, so that as the trays are moved forward they encounter this forward end of the frame and are arrested thereby. By lifting the forward end of the frame its rear end is caused to descend and release the trays, which may thus be moved forward over the same preparatory to their removal at the front.

For the purpose of holding the fruit or other material to be treated, I provide a series of flat rectangular trays, L, such as represented in the several figures, each tray consisting of a rectangular frame having a bottom of wiregauze or other suitable material, upon which the fruitmay be spread. Each tray has its two end pieces extended downward below the sides, so as to form projecting shoulders t, and also has its side pieces extended upward above the ends to form shoulders u, as plainly rep- The frames being made in duplicate, it follows that when one is placed upon another the end shoulders, t, of the upper tray, will fit between or within the shoulders a of the lower tray. (See Fig. 4.) This interlocking of the trays is advantageous in that it permits them to be placed one on top of another, so as to be carried through the apparatus without danger of their separating or sliding out of position. that the end bars, being wider than the side bars, produce openings or spaces between the frames when placed one on another, so that the air may circulate freely between them.

In operating with the apparatus I usually proceed in the following manner: The fruits or vegetables, prepared by paring, slicing, or

otherwise in the usual manner, are spread It is to be noticed upon the trays, which are entered singly, one I after the other, at the rear or upper end of the upper flue, F. The slide H, and also the slide m, if desired, being closed, the sulphur fumes are permitted to fill the flue, the effect of the sulphur being to prevent oxidation and fix the natural color of the fruit, in the manner well understood by those skilled in the art. WVhen this treatment of the fruit has continued for a sufficient length of time, the slides m and H are opened, whereupon a strong current of heated air will rush upward through the gate H, and thence through the fine to the chimney, carrying off the sulphur fumes and quickly drying the cut surface of the fruit. This discharge of the sulphur fumes is advantageous in that it avoids annoyance to the operator, and also in that it prevents the fruit in the more advanced stages of evaporation from being affected by the sulphur. After the discharge of the sulphur fumes, the doors at the front of the fines E and F are opened and the trays transferred from the latter to the former. The trays are placed in the fiue E, one upon another, in the manner represented in Fig. 1, instead of being arranged singly as in the upper flue. The height to which the trays are thus piled may be varied, but itis preferred in the ordinary course of operation to arrange the traysin groups of threes. One group upon being entered is carried upward and backward by means of the sliding rackbar until the lower tray engages over the locking-shoulder, whereupon the bar is returned to its normal position and a second group is inserted and moved upward in turn, so as to push the first group before it toward the rear end of the apparatus. This operation is repeated until the first group reaches the rear end of the apparatus. At the proper time the door at the rear end of the flue E is opened, the trays removed therefrom and inserted into the rear end of the bottom flue, D, through which they are passed toward the front of the apparatus. By operating the locking'frame q the groups may be permitted to slide downward one after another over the furnace to the front of the fine, from which they are removed through the proper door. It will be observed that in its passage through the flue E the fruit moves away from the heater, and is thus subjected to a diminishing temperature, and that after this treatment, and during its passage through the flue D, it is subjected to an increasing temperature by reason of its approach toward the furnace or heater. In practice it is found that by thus subjecting the fruit to the action of a diminishin g and of an increasing temperature alternately much better results are secured than under the ordinary mode of procedure.

boards, 00, which are inserted therein in the manner represented. There are two fastening-bolts, 1,011 each side of the apparatus, extended vertically through the horizontal frames and provided with nuts on their ends, whereby they are caused to draw the frames firmly together upon the side boards, the structure when thus united possessing a rigidity sufficient for all purposes.

It will be understood that in assembling the parts the frames maybe held apart by hand during the insertion of the side board, or 0th erwise suitably held apart, or that one frame may be placed in position, the side boards seated thereon, a second frame applied on top, and so on repeatedly.

It will be perceived that by the use of the gate or gates between the forward ends of the fines I am enabled to direct the heated air into one or more of the flues atwill, so that it will ascend through them, and also that I am enabled'to isolate the upper fiues when the upper fines are open for the removal or insertion of the trays, thus preventing the escape of the heated air through the front of the upper trays, as would otherwise occur.

I am aware that overlying fines communi' eating at both ends, and at one end with doors for the insertion and removal of the trays at the end, but without gates to open and close communication between them at the front, are old, and I make no claim thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a fruitdrier, the combination of a stationary furnace or heater, a body mounted at one end upon said furnace and adjustable as to inclination independently thereof, and an adjustable device, substantially as described, supporting the opposite end of said body.

2. The combination, in afruit-drier, of the stationary furnace, a laterally-cxtending fine hinged at one end to said furnace, adjustable independently thereof and communicating internally therewith, and the adjustable leg 0 at the opposite end of the body, as described and shown.

3. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the following-elements: a body having longitudinal fiues arranged one above another, a furnace or heater communicating with the body at the forward end, and means, substantially as described, for opening or positively closing direct communication between the fines at their forward ends, whereby the course of the air'curreuts may be controlled and varied, as described.

4. In a fruit-drier, the combination of a bod y.

having longitudinal fines, a furnace or heater communicating with said body at one end, and gates, substantially as described, for opening or closing the two ends of the upper flue at will, whereby said fine may be plaeedin communication with the furnace or completely isolated, as required.

5. In a fruitdrier, the furnace or heater, the body provided with overlying fines and the communicating at one end with the furnace, means for suppl yin gbleachin g-fumes to the upper flue, the chimney, and means, as described, whereby the upper flue may be closed and isolated or opened to permit the heated air to ascend through the same to the chimney for the purpose of discharging the bleachingfumes therefrom.

6. In combination with the furnace or heater, the body provided with the chimney and with the three overlying flues communicating with each other at the rear end, and the gates or slides G and H for connecting or disconnecting the flues with each other at the forward ends.

7. The combination, in a fruit-drier, of the furnace or heater, the body having the three lines with the openings j and k at the rear end, and the gates G, H, and m, arranged as described.

8. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the furnace or heater, the body connected with said furnace and provided with horizontal or approximately horizontal flues located one above another, doors located at the ends of the respective flues and opening outward therefrom for the purpose of permitting the trays to be withdrawn and transferred from one flue to another, and slides or gates, arranged substantially as shown, for connecting and disconnecting the flues at their forward ends, whereby the heat produced may be permitted to ascend directly to the top of the apparatus or compelled to pass through the flues to the rear.

9. In combination with the bleachingflue or chamber, the furnace or heater, a conduc ing-pipe, I, and the sulphur pan or receptacle K, connected with and arranged to be heated by the furnace.

10. In combination with the stationary furnace and the body adjustable as to its inelination thereon, and the hinged board g, whereby a close connection is maintained between the body and .furnace.

11. In combination with the body, an ap proximately horizontal flue or chamber with a door at its ends, the reciprocating rack-bar N, and the hand-crank and pinion for operating the same, substantially as described.

12. In a fruit-drier having a horizontal or approximately horizontal flue, the pivoted gravitatingframeq, substantially as described, to arrest the motion of the trays.

13. The combination of the stationary furnace, the body hinged thereto, and the hinged board or flap 14. The trays constructed, as shown, with the shoulders, the wide end bars, and the narrow side bars, whereby they, are caused to interlock when placed one upon another and the circulation of air between them permitted.

15. A fruit-drier having a body with horizontal overlying flues, said body being constructed in horizontal separable sections, substantiall y as described, whereby it may be stowed in compact form for transportation.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- vBENJ. L. RYDER.

Witnesses:

DANIEL BREED, EMMA M. GILLETT. 

